Whats the vision?
Kingsbridge and its surrounding towns and villages desperately need a usable free-to-use wheeled sports facility. Designed to include Skateboarding, scooters, BMX, Roller blading and adapted wheelchairs it caters for all those with a passion for wheeled devices. We are also looking to include a safe social area on the bank above the park, a space where all can expand and strengthen their friendship groups. Skateparks have been documented to increase social inclusion, reduce anti-social behaviour and improve mental and physical health and should be a staple of any community.
What is the history of skateparks in Kingsbridge?
Back in 2001 our local skaters raised £25k towards a skatepark but after minimal noise complaints it was torn down after 3 years. We were without one for a further 6 years until a substandard and ill-thought-out replacement was built in the Quay car park.
The park has no flow and is difficult for beginners due to the height of the features. It really was thrown together with little thought so remains unused most of the year.
How our project will be united by Birmingham 2022
We want to build on the legacy created by the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth games by providing an inclusive space to help unite our community. With the help of Sport England and their Places and Spaces match funding initiative we can create a facility that improves both our mental and physical health whilst solidifying and expanding our friendship groups, vitally important in a post-pandemic era.
Where are we at?
Our plan started back in March 2021. In the midst of a global pandemic the focus on everyone's mental and physical health became a real concern. A free to use facility for one of the fastest growing sports became a real aspiration for our community so we went to work. After a public consultation resulting in over 500 responses we knew we had the support for the plan to begin. After expanding its footprint we put the project out to tender, hoping to pull in a top park builder to realise our dream. Wheelscape were the clear winner, producing a great concept design using the feedback we had gathered through our consultation. The design is still open for feedback as we strive to make it the perfect venue for our users. Follow the link below to leave any comments
https://www.wheelscape.co.uk/kingsbridge-coming-soon
So far we have manged to raise circa £100,000 towards an expected cost of £250,000. This crowdfunder will help greatly towards the final cost and open up other avenues for funding.
When do we expect completion?
Projects like this can take a long time but its important we get this right! A realistic target is Spring 2024. We have raised significant funds already but will need to raise more after this crowdfunder. We hope the financial commitment made by our local authorities gives you the confidence to help support our project. Be aware that the rewards offered through this may not be released until completion so please bid with that in mind.
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target and make this project a reality:
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success! The project welcomes any amount large or small and all contributions will go towards the Skatepark.
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!
4. If you want to run your own fundraiser to support us, maybe a sponsored activity or similar, use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!
Remember, no matter how little you feel you can comfortable contribute, it holds significant value towards our goal. We understand and appreciate how difficult and concerning the cost of living is right now, but if you can help us fund a free-to-use facility it will pay back ten-fold to the community we live in. Thanks for taking the time to read and support our project!
Please be aware this is an all or nothing crowdfunder, meaning we have to hit the target by the end date or we receive nothing! If unsuccessful we refund any pledges made and any rewards donated we will be returned to the donor. If successful we make a giant step towards our goal and you receive the reward you wanted!